Drug Interactions:
Atypical Antipsychotics
The medications olanzapine (Zyprexa) and clozapine (Clozaril) are used to treat schizophrenia and other forms of psychosis.
St. John's Wort
Possible Harmful Interaction
The herb St. John’s wort might reduce levels of these medications in the blood.1 This could lead to an increase in the severity of psychotic symptoms.
Perhaps even more dangerously, if medication levels are adjusted for an individual already taking St. John’s wort, stopping the herb could cause these levels to rise, potentially causing dangerous toxic symptoms.
Ginkgo
Possible Helpful Interaction
Preliminary evidence suggests that ginkgo might reduce the side effects and increase the efficacy of various antipsychotic medications, including atypical antipsychotic drugs.2
View References
Last reviewed March 2002 by Medical Review Board
Back to Top
